Definitions for sharp
ʃɑrpsharp

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. sharpnoun

   a musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named

2. sharpadjective

   a long thin sewing needle with a sharp point

3. crisp, sharpadjective

   (of something seen or heard) clearly defined

   "a sharp photographic image"; "the sharp crack of a twig"; "the crisp snap of dry leaves underfoot"

4. acuate, acute, sharp, needlelikeadjective

   ending in a sharp point

5. acute, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, sharpadjective

   having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

   "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations"

6. astute, sharp, shrewdadjective

   marked by practical hardheaded intelligence

   "a smart businessman"; "an astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease"; "he was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow"

7. sharp, sharp-worded, tartadjective

   harsh

   "sharp criticism"; "a sharp-worded exchange"; "a tart remark"

8. shrill, sharpadjective

   having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones

   "a shrill whistle"; "a shrill gaiety"

9. abrupt, precipitous, sharpadjective

   extremely steep

   "an abrupt canyon"; "the precipitous rapids of the upper river"; "the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings"; "a sharp drop"

10. sharpadjective

    keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point

    "a sharp pain"; "sharp winds"

11. sharpadjective

    having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing

    "a sharp knife"; "a pencil with a sharp point"

12. sharpadjective

    (of a musical note) raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone

    "C sharp"

13. sharpadjective

    very sudden and in great amount or degree

    "a sharp drop in the stock market"

14. sharpadverb

    quick and forceful

    "a sharp blow"

15. sharply, sharp, acutelyadverb

    changing suddenly in direction and degree

    "the road twists sharply after the light"; "turn sharp left here"; "the visor was acutely peaked"; "her shoes had acutely pointed toes"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. sharpnoun

   The symbol u266F, placed after the name of a note in the key signature or before a note on the staff to indicate that the note is to be played a semitone higher.

   Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

2. sharpnoun

   A note that is played a semitone higher than usual; denoted by the name of the note that is followed by the symbol u266F.

   Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

3. sharpnoun

   A note that is sharp in a particular key.

   The piece was difficult to read after it had been transposed, since in the new key many notes were sharps.

   Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

4. sharpnoun

   The scale having a particular sharp note as its tonic.

   Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" is written in Cu266F minor (C sharp minor.)

   Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

5. sharpnoun

   Something which is sharp.

   Place sharps in the specially marked red container for safe disposal.

   Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

6. sharpnoun

   A hypodermic syringe.

   Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

7. sharpnoun

   A scalpel or other edged instrument used in surgery.

   Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

8. sharpnoun

   A dishonest person; a cheater.

   The casino kept in the break room a set of pictures of known sharps for the bouncers to see.

   Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

9. sharpverb

   To raise the pitch of a note half a step making a natural note a sharp.

   That new musician must be tone deaf: he sharped half the notes of the song!

   Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

10. sharpadverb

    Exactly.

    I'll see you at twelve o'clock sharp.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

11. sharpadverb

    In a higher pitch than is correct or desirable.

    I didn't enjoy the concert much because the tenor kept going sharp on the high notes.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

12. sharpadjective

    Able to cut easily.

    I keep my knives sharp so that they don't slip unexpectedly while carving.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

13. sharpadjective

    Intelligent.

    My nephew is a sharp lad; he can count to 100 in six languages, and he's only five years old.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

14. sharpadjective

    Able to pierce easily; pointed.

    Ernest made the pencil too sharp and accidentally stabbed himself with it.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

15. sharpadjective

    Higher than usual by one semitone (denoted by the symbol u266F after the name of the note).

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

16. sharpadjective

    Higher in pitch than required.

    The orchestra's third violin several times was sharp about an eighth of a tone.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

17. sharpadjective

    Having an intense, acrid flavour.

    Milly couldn't stand sharp cheeses when she was pregnant, because they made her nauseated.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

18. sharpadjective

    sudden and intense.

    A pregnant woman during labor normally experiences a number of sharp contractions.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

19. sharpadjective

    Illegal or dishonest.

    Michael had a number of sharp ventures that he kept off the books.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

20. sharpadjective

    Exact, precise, accurate; keen.

    You'll need sharp aim to make that shot.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

21. sharpadjective

    Offensive, critical, or acrimonious, as sharp criticism.

    When the two rivals met, first there were sharp words, and then a fight broke out.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

22. sharpadjective

    Stylish or attractive.

    You look so sharp in that tuxedo!

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

23. sharpadjective

    Observant; alert; acute.

    Keep a sharp watch on the prisoners. I don't want them to escape!

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

24. sharpadjective

    Forming a small angle; forming an angle of less than ninety degrees.

    Drive down Main for three quarters of a mile, then make a sharp right turn onto Pine.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

25. sharpadjective

    Said of as extreme a value as possible.

    Sure, any planar graph can be five-colored. But that result is not sharp: in fact, any planar graph can be four-colored. That is sharp: the same can't be said for any lower number.

    Etymology: From scearp, from skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from (s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin aacerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian 'notch', Albanian tharbët 'sour'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Sharp

   having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily; not blunt or dull; keen

2. Sharp

   terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse or rounded; somewhat pointed or edged; peaked or ridged; as, a sharp hill; sharp features

3. Sharp

   affecting the sense as if pointed or cutting, keen, penetrating, acute: to the taste or smell, pungent, acid, sour, as ammonia has a sharp taste and odor; to the hearing, piercing, shrill, as a sharp sound or voice; to the eye, instantaneously brilliant, dazzling, as a sharp flash

4. Sharp

   high in pitch; acute; as, a sharp note or tone

5. Sharp

   raised a semitone in pitch; as, C sharp (C/), which is a half step, or semitone, higher than C

6. Sharp

   so high as to be out of tune, or above true pitch; as, the tone is sharp; that instrument is sharp. Opposed in all these senses to flat

7. Sharp

   very trying to the feelings; piercing; keen; severe; painful; distressing; as, sharp pain, weather; a sharp and frosty air

8. Sharp

   cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel; harsh; rigorous; severe; as, a sharp rebuke

9. Sharp

   of keen perception; quick to discern or distinguish; having nice discrimination; acute; penetrating; sagacious; clever; as, a sharp eye; sharp sight, hearing, or judgment

10. Sharp

    eager in pursuit; keen in quest; impatient for gratification; keen; as, a sharp appetite

11. Sharp

    fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous

12. Sharp

    keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interest; close and exact in dealing; shrewd; as, a sharp dealer; a sharp customer

13. Sharp

    composed of hard, angular grains; gritty; as, sharp sand

14. Sharp

    steep; precipitous; abrupt; as, a sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve

15. Sharp

    uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone, without voice, as certain consonants, such as p, k, t, f; surd; nonvocal; aspirated

16. Sharpadverb

    to a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply

17. Sharpadverb

    precisely; exactly; as, we shall start at ten o'clock sharp

18. Sharpnoun

    a sharp tool or weapon

19. Sharpnoun

    the character [/] used to indicate that the note before which it is placed is to be raised a half step, or semitone, in pitch

20. Sharpnoun

    a sharp tone or note

21. Sharpnoun

    a portion of a stream where the water runs very rapidly

22. Sharpnoun

    a sewing needle having a very slender point; a needle of the most pointed of the three grades, blunts, betweens, and sharps

23. Sharpnoun

    same as Middlings, 1

24. Sharpnoun

    an expert

25. Sharpverb

    to sharpen

26. Sharpverb

    to raise above the proper pitch; to elevate the tone of; especially, to raise a half step, or semitone, above the natural tone

27. Sharpverb

    to play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper

28. Sharpverb

    to sing above the proper pitch

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Sharp

   In music, sharp, dièse, or diesis means higher in pitch and the sharp symbol raises a note by a half tone. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously. More specifically, in musical notation, sharp means "higher in pitch by a semitone," and has an associated symbol, which may be found in key signatures or as an accidental, as may flats. Under twelve-tone equal temperament, B sharp, for instance, sounds the same as, or is enharmonically equivalent to, C natural, and E sharp is enharmonically equivalent to F natural. In other tuning systems, such enharmonic equivalences in general do not exist. To allow extended just intonation, composer Ben Johnston uses a sharp to indicate a note is raised 70.6 cents, or a flat to indicate a note is lowered 70.6 cents. In tuning, sharp can also mean "slightly higher in pitch". If two simultaneous notes are slightly out of tune, the higher-pitched one is said to be sharp with respect to the other. Furthermore, the verb sharpen means "raise the frequency of a note, typically by a small musical interval".

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. sharp

   Prompt and attentive.--Be sharp! Make haste.--Look sharp! Lose no time. Also, an old term for a sword.

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. sharp

   Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous. “In sharp contest of battle.”

Entomology(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Sharp

   with a pointed tip or thin edge; opposed to blunt.

Matched Categories

1. • Music
   • Musical Notation

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'sharp' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2315

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'sharp' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3415

3. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'sharp' in Adjectives Frequency: #306

Anagrams for sharp »

1. harps

How to pronounce sharp?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say sharp in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of sharp in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of sharp in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of sharp in a Sentence

1. Stephen Worrell:

   Oil prices continue to move lower, which is a cause of concern for some in the United States. But it's actually a very good thing for Japan. Many equity rallies have followed periods where there have been sharp declines in oil prices.

2. Kei Nishikori:

   They were so cute. I get really relaxed( but the) nail was really sharp so it was hurting, otherwise it was really fun, actually, outside is really changing around me. It's really different. A lot of media stuff, especially in Japan. I feel more attention.

3. Tsuyoshi Shimizu:

   The markets are clearly starting to price in a sharp slowdown in the world economy and even a recession in the United States, i do not expect a collapse of major financial crisis like the Lehman crisis but it will take some before market sentiment will improve.

4. Alex Kwok:

   Sentiment was soured mainly by sharp falls in European and U.S. equity markets, and global commodity prices, the markets were also hit by China's PMI data released today, which doesn't look good.

5. Deodatta V. Shenai-Khatkhate:

   When I was growing up in a small village in India, the fairy-tales and children's stories led me to believe that villains and bad guys look like monsters, and they are really very rude and crude in their behavior. The movies during my generation also strengthened that perseption. As I grew up and travelled around the world, I soon realized the reality that the bad guys and villains are often good looking, well-behaved, silky smooth, sharp and smart...often too smart to gain your complete confidence before their brutal betrayal and them deceitfully back-stabbing you when you least expect it. We all discover this harsh reality hard way, after getting entangled at least once in their tantalizing tangled web of deception, that appearances can often be deceptive, and too good to be true - always! And yet, not all the times but only occasionally, the dreamer and optimist inside us likes to believe those fairy-tales and the happy-ending movies from childhood....

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